Johannesburg’s
favourite sports are road running, soccer, rugby and
cricket. Early each Sunday morning, road runners gather
in their 10's of 1000's to take part in road races organised by
dozens of athletic clubs, such as Benoni Harriers, the RAC (Rand
Athletic Club), Pirates and Varsity Kudus. There is broad online
information available for running information, as well as cycling,
mountain biking, adventure racing, canoeing and triathlon.
South Africans are generally soccer mad and the
Johannesburg clubs play either in the MTN Supersport Leagues or
the PSL (Professional Soccer League). In the PSL, top Johannesburg
teams and fierce rivals are the Amakhozi or Kaizer
Chiefs, The Birds or Morocco Swallows, and Buccaneers/Bucs or
Orlando
Pirates, which are based at the city’s Johannesburg, Rand
and FNB stadiums respectively. The Wits University team, called
Clever Boys, is right up there with the best of them and, with a
player membership of over 1,500, is 1 of the world’s largest
clubs. The city’s best, under the MTN banner, are Alexander
United and Katlehong City, who play at the Alexander and Reiger
Park stadiums.
Home to the Gauteng Lions, the fearsome Johannesburg rugby
team, Ellis Park,
South Park Street (telephone: (011) 402 8644/8) is arguably the
world’s most famous rugby stadium, while the famed cricket
team, Highveld
Strikers, are based at Johannesburg’s renowned Wanderers
Stadium, Corlett Drive, Illovo (telephone: (011) 788 1008).
This provincial team takes part in the impressive Supersport and
Standard Bank Cup series.
There is a large number of brilliant websites,
all trying to keep up with the South African’s insatiable
appetite for sport. There is a website for soccer
enthusiasts, which is the best place to find out everything concerning
fixtures, clubs, tickets and venues. There is a website that gives
information on rugby,
and an tremendously informative one for South
African cricket. There is a comprehensive website for full schedules
and press reports online,
sport fanatics should click on sport.
Most tickets for major sporting events are available through Ticketweb
or Computicket.
Golf
There are dozens of great golf courses in and around
Johannesburg, including Bryanston Country Club, Bryanston Drive,
Bryanston (telephone: (011) 706 1391), Houghton Golf Club, Second
Avenue, Houghton (telephone: (011) 728 7337), Randpark Golf Club,
Setperk Street, Windsor Park (telephone: (011) 476 1691), and Royal
Johannesburg Golf Club (telephone: (011) 640 3021). Visitor’s
green fees range from R 130 to R 200. Visiting golfers have to carry
proof of membership of any genuine golf club. Caddies and carts
are available for hire at all courses at approximately R 70 and
R 130 respectively. Further information is available online.
Gyms
With the recent demise of the extensive Health and Racquet Club
chain, which had over a dozen branches in Johannesburg, Richard
Branson’s Virgin
Active has stepped in to refurbish the gyms (telephone: (0860)
200 911). There are branches at Bedfordview (telephone: (011) 455
1870), Bruma Lake (telephone: (011) 616 6373), Bryan Park (telephone:
(011) 463 6610), Cresta Centre (telephone: (011) 476 2223), Fourways
Mall (telephone: (011) 465 9590), Morningside (telephone: (011)
883 1951), Northgate (telephone: (011) 794 2402), Old Eds (Houghton
East) (telephone: (011) 483 1298), Randburg (telephone: (011) 792
8860); Sandton (telephone: (011) 883 4633), and Vodaworld (Midrand)
(telephone: (011) 318 3355).
Horseracing
There are 3 racecourses in and around Johannesburg, Newmarket in
Alberton, Turffontein in Johannesburg and Gosforth Park in Germiston.
South Africa has world class trainers and breeders who have developed
the sport to the best international standards. Newmarket Turf Club,
Alberton (telephone: (011) 907 9753), is 1 of the most famous horseracing
courses in South Africa. Night racing is a new
modernization. Details of meetings are published in the press.
Swimming
There are sparkling, well maintained public pools
in the suburbs of Brixton (telephone: (011) 837 2440), Ellis Park
(telephone: (011) 402 5565), Linden (telephone: (011) 888 3750),
Parkview (telephone: (011) 646 8754) and Roosevelt Park (telephone:
(011) 782 2474).
Tennis
Public courts are accessible at the municipal Marks
Park complex, located on Judith Road, Emmarentia (telephone: (011)
486 1963), and at assorted recreation centres, such as Paterson
Park, in Norwood (telephone: (011) 728 7250). Several of the golf
clubs listed above have their own tennis courts. |
